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"A Family Tradition for 128 Years" Elected in new Ward 5 Karen Puckrin looks | forward to first term | By Kelly Lown Port Perry Star Karen Puckrin is Scugog's first Ward 5 councillor, after winning the newly created seat by 559 votes in last night's mu- nicipal election. "I am happy and very re- lieved," she said of her victory, adding that "the hard work paid off." The race for the seat was de- cided fairly early in the evening and Mrs. Puckrin said she had a good feeling the past couple of weeks that she would win the seat. - She had nothing but good words for her challenger in the Ward 5 race, Wally Donaldson. "Wally ran an excellent cam- paign. He was a perfect gentle- man throughout, making it a pleasure to be in a race with him," she said. Mrs. Puckrin is looking for- ward to working with the new council, which will include two other new faces. Mrs. Puckrin, who admitted she was confident she would put in a good showing on the ballots, said she was surprised at how much support she did receive from people. "You have to have people be- hind you. And I thank them for that." "I now have a responsibility to not let them down. I intend to keep in touch with as many peo- ple as possible," she added. Mrs. Puckrin, a registered nurse, is a member of the Port Perry Fair Board and has per- formed volunteer work for many organizations. The 10-year resident of Scu- gog Township, listed a lease for the fairgrounds with no termi- nation clause, tourism and a long-range plan for the town- ship as some of her top priorities when shie entered the race. = Rag : d Lew AES px ® i ge, SF ~ i X " LORE. Wt Su J. PETER HVIDSTEN / PORT PERRY STAR For the first time in history the majority of seats on Scugog Township Council will be occupied by women. Electeu to council during Monday night's municipal vote are, from left, Joyce Kelly (Ward 4), Karen Puckrin (Ward 5), Yvonne Christie (Regional Councillor) and Marilyn Pearce (Ward 2). A handy win to take her third term as councillor for Ward 2 in Scugog has put the wind back in Marilyn Pearce's sails. "To come back in and win a third term, I'm really excited and ready to carry on," she said Monday night at the Latcham Centre in Port Perry. "The support gives you a renewed energy." Councillor Pearce fended off a vigorous run by opponent Jim Grosvenor, collecting 905 votes in the Nov. 14 municipal election to his 629, a margin of 276 ballots. She said just prior to the election that she was encoun- tering a startling amount of negativity on the campaign trail. And Monday night she reiterated the claim. "I was growing weary," she said of the last few days of Third straight election win a boost for Ward 2's Pearce MARILYN PEARCE the campaign, which started in earnest Oct. 14 when nomi- nations closed. "But I think to see so many incumbents get in it's a good indication the public agrees with the direction we're tak- ing. Four of the seven members on the council for the next three years are incumbents returning to the table, and that's important at a time when the economy is shaping up and opportunities could abound, said councillor Pearce. "I think it's going to be an exciting three years," she said. "I definitely think we need an experienced council right now. Because there will be cutbacks this year, we know it." Councillor Pearce said she hopes to see the township keep pushing its economic strategy to improve the local economy, and added she will push for changes to streamline the planning approval process here to speed up development. New Ward 4 Councillor Kelly brings experience to council By Kelly Lown Port Perry Star Joyce Kelly is taking nine years of trustee experience with her as she steps into Scugog Township's Ward 4 seat. The former Durham Board of Education school trustee won the seat by a slim margin over her challenger Fred Ford. Mrs. Kelly received 788 votes, defeating Mr. Ford by just 74 votes. "I wasn't sure there for a while," she said of the race, which was undecided until the last two polls came in. "You never know how it will work. I had noidea (how I would do)," she added. Mrs. Kelly is looking forward to working with the new coun- cil, but could not say how they will work together. "Tl find out when I get there," she said. "T think there is a good mix- ture of both experience and new people. The voters have spoken. This is who they want," she add- ed. This is the first time Mrs. Kel- ly has served on municipal council, but feels her back- ground as a trustee, which she calls a "great nine years" will help. "I look forward to it with ex- citement. It will be a refreshing change. It will be similar, but different at the same time," she said. Mrs. Kelly, a life-long resi- dent of Cartwright made the de- cision to run for Ward 4 when the Durham Board cut five trus- tee seats, including one in Scu- 80g. She said at the time of her candidacy announcement. that she had always had a desire to run for local council and it seemed to be the right time. She cited lack of representation, along with the fact that she had no children left in the school sys- tem as being instrumental in her decision to seek the Ward 4 seat. Drew wins by large margin in first race in six years on board By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Scugog public school trustee Bobbie Drew faced the elec- torate here for the first time in six years Monday night, and was the runaway winner in a four person race. Mrs. Drew -- who has been acclaimed to the board for the last two terms -- topped her nearest competitor by a margin + of 1,070 votes, earning another three-year term with the Durham Board of Education. "I'm grateful for the confi- dence the people showed in me and in public education," a relieved Mrs. Drew said Monday night. "I plan on serv- ing the people of Scugog to the best of my ability." She faced four opponents in this year's race, and came out on top with 2,771 votes in Scugog, 1,070 more than her nearest competitor, Carol Switzer. Mrs. Switzer and can- didate Doreen Kendall present- ed the most competition for Mrs. Drew; throughout the cam- paign both women stressed a need to cut fat from the board, and concentrate on basic cur- riculum. Mrs. Switzer attracted 1,701 votes; Mrs. Kendall pulled in 1,203. Bob Brooks, who did vir- tually no advertising and posted no election signs, was fourth in the race with 287. Mrs. Drew will now be Scugog's only representative on the Durham board, as cost-cut- A jubllant Bobbie Drew was returned as Durham Bd. of Education Trustee and Is seen here talking to one of her supporters. ting measures meant the elimi- nation of one local seat. She said she's undaunted by that challenge as both she and for- mer trustee Joyce Kelly (who was successful in her bid for the Ward 4 seat on Scugog coun- cil) have been trustees at large, responsible for all the schools in the area.